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Ancient Science of Life, Vol. II, No1 April 1982, Page 54-56

OBSERVATIONS ON PURPUREA (L.) PERS. GROWING IN AND AROUND GAUHAT (ASSAM)

C.R.KARNICK and R. MAJUMDAR Regional Research Centre (Ayurveda), Govt Ayurveda College, Gauhati – 781014,

Received: March 26, 1982 Accepted: June 7, 1982

ABSTRACT: Observations on Tephrosia purpurea (L.) pers. Which is known as Sarapunkha in Ayurveda, growing in and around Gauhati (Assam) has been systematically discussed in this paper. The Ethno-botanical records of the are also described here.

Tephrosia purpurea (L) Pers. Has a Plant flowers during rainy season, fruiting is recognized place as medicine in Indigenous achieved upto January and there after the systems of medicine. upper portion of plant starts drying.

In Ayurveda it is known by the name of Distribution: It is found wild in wasteland, ‘Sarapunkha’ and considered as anthelmintic on road sides, prefers dry places and grass- for a number of worms, specially Ksara lands all over India ascending the Himalayas (ash) of the Pancanga is utilized for the upto 6000 ft. purpose. It is said to possess laxative properties and considered as a blood It was found abundantly growing in and purifier. Root is given in tympanitis, around Gauhati where the climatic factors is dyspepsia and chronic diarrhea whereas the as follows. bark of the fresh root is ground with pepper Gauhati is located at the South Bank of and the pills are orally used to control piles might river Brahmaputra. Latitude 26.10 N., and the obstinate colic. Longitude 91.50 E at 163 feet above sea The Plant: Belongs to the family . level. It is surrounded by small hills and It is a sub-erect perennial herb of 30 45 cm. famous Kamakhya temple is located at the hight, leaves are composed of leaflets, total Nilachal hill on the same Southern Bank. length of the whole leaf is 2-6 inch long. *Annual Rainfall (in mm.) – 1477 to 1962, Racemes are 3-6 inch long, lax-flowered, Humidity (in P.C) – 80 – 83. corolla is purple coloured and size of pod 1 Highest temperature – 39. to 1.5 inch and are straight and thinly Lowest temperature – 6. pubescent. Pods contain 4-6 seeds of greenish – grey, smooth and speckled seeds in size which sometimes number upto 10.

Page 54-56 (Abstract from the Meteorological data for year 1973 to 1977. Received by Courtsy of (Analysed by the Fertiliser Corporation of Meteorological Centre, Borjhar, Gauhati). Indi Ltd. Chandmari, Gauhati).

Some soil samples of the places where it Tephrosia is a large genues of herbs, having was growing and the results are given 35 species, only 10 species have been below: recorded in Flora of British India (Hooker (Abstract from data for 5 soil samples one 1889). There occurs quite a large number of each from Jalukbari, Engineering college varieties in India. campus, Borjhar (Yogipara), A.P.R.O. (Sat mila), near Ayurvedic College).

Texture pH Conductivity Organic Carbon Phosphorus (Indicating the level (Indicating of Nutrient Salts) Nitrogen) Sandyloam 6.1 to 0.100 (Normal) 0.98 to 1.54 (High) 19.7 to 23.6 kg/ha 6.5 (In one sample 0.56) (Medium) (Normal) Medium (In one sample 137.9 (High) Pottassium 93.0 to 186.0 kg/ha (Medium to High)

Ethnobotanical records: Much of our (Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers.) is given to knowledge of medicinal can be control and check it. obtained from tribal people. Since the authors were surveying various tribal Roots are used by some (Bodo, rava, pockets in dense forests of Brahmaputra Kachari) tribal people of the Brahmaputra valley of Assam, they observed certain Valley of Assam for flavouring milk specific cures for particular diseases. (Boissya and Majumder, 1980). Majumdar et al. (1978) reported that after the beginning of conception, the root of Drug obtained from Tephrosia is said to ‘Bon-nil’ (Tephrosia purpurea L.) penetrates ‘Purify’ the blood, used in treatment of through the vaginal passage to the uterus boils, pimples etc. and is kept in position for 10-15 minutes. It is said that zygote is destroyed within the Phyto-chemical investigations were carried period of 15 minutes. As abortion causes using method as outlined in Paech Tracey much bleeding juice of ‘Dorboribon’ (1955) Fluorence studies of powdered drugs

Page 54-56 were made as per methods of chase & Pratt Fluorescence studies of dry drugs: (1949). Histological investigations of tissue Drug/part U.V using methods as recommended in Trease Leaves: Green / blue (1957) Yougkon (1950). Usual standard Roots : Dark purple Agricultural Procedures followed during Stems: Scarlet – purple cultivation trials. Fruits: Chocolate brown purple Observation Macroscopy Drug : Roots, leaves and seeds. Active constituents: Rotenone with % in different parts Leaf: 0.003%; stem: 0.013%; Roots: Pale yellow-brown taproot systems, Flowers: 0.005%; Seed: 0.120%; Fruits: with secondary and tertiary branches. At 0.120%; Root: 0.357%. places bacterial nodules present. Scars Toxicity Evaluation: Alkaloid. present on old tap root – 3 cm. to 5 cm. in (Inchthological toxicity). diameter. Action on Aphida (in cultures). Extract of Mortality rate of Aphids. Microscopy: Usual dichotomous, tissue Leaves – 6.65%; Stem-9.65%; Roots - system Cork cells cubical. Secondary cortex 81.50%. contain amorphous mases of resins, tannins other ergastic substances.

Phytochemical screenings:

Drug Part Flavonoids Alkaloids Tannins Glycosides Resins Leaf: + ++ ++ ++ + Root: ++ +++ ++ + + Stem: +++ +++ +++ ++ ++ Pods: +++ + +++ + ++

Discussion & Conclusions: (n=22) were also observed. Tetraploids, Tephrosia purpurea (L) Pers. ‘Sarapunkha’ allopollyploidy, notice in various group of is used in Indian system of Medicine for these plants. ages, it was thought a critical examination of the plant and it’s varieties would be worth Seed is considered anthelmintic, antipyretic, rewarding. used for ulcer, leprosy, asthma, bronchitis, disease of liver, ear, spleen and tumours Cytologically two types were observed (Majumder, 1980). n=11. N=12; diploid (n=11) and tetraploid

Page 54-56 Ethnobotanical records show that it is used Medicine Herba Hangarica, Budapest (In in abortion and flavouring milk Leaves Press). useful in Jaundice. From fore-going paragraphs it is seen that Hooker, J.D: Flora of British – India Bishen the drug plants has high potentials for Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, New Connaught evaluation to newer drug. Place, Dehradun.

Acknowledgements: CHASE, C.R. & Pratt, R: Journal Am Pharm. Assoc. 38.324 (1949). Grateful acknowledgement is made to the Director, CCRAS, NEW Delhi, Officer-in- MAJUMDER, R., Tiwari, K.C., Charge and all the staff members of the Bhattacharjee, S.& Nair, A.R.: Some Regional Research Centre (Ayurveda) and Folklore Medicine from Assam and Govt. Ayurvedic College, Gauhati- 14 Meghalaya, Quarterly Journal Crude Drug (Assam). Research, The Netharlands vol 16 (1978), No 4, pp. 185-189. REFERENCE MAJUMDER, R., Tiwari, K.C., BHATTACHARJEE, S., Tiwari, K.C., Bhattacharjee, S.: Important Medicinal Majumder, R & Patowari, B., Assam Vis-à- Plants of Gauhati and Surrounding areas, vis plants of Ayurvedic Value: Indian Drugs Journal of Assam Science Society, Gauhati & Pharmaceutical Industry, Bombay-89, (Und. Pub.). July-August, 1977& Vol. XII, No. 5, September – October, 1977. MAJUMDER, R.; Economic Aspects of Plants of Ayurvedic Importance from the BHATTACHARJEE, S., Tiwari, K.C., Brahmaputra Valley (Assam) Ph.D. Thesis, Majumder, R. Some Medicinal Plants from Gauhati University, 1980. Upper Assam Borders: National Academy of Sciences, India, Allahabad-2 (In Press). BIOSSYA, c. l. & Majumder, R.: Some Folklore Claims from the Brahmaputra CHOPRA, R.N., Chopra, I.C., Handa, K.L., Valley (Assam), Ethno-medicine, West Kapur L.D,: Chopras Indigenous Drugs of Germany, Vol. VI,1-4 (1980). india U.N. Dhur & Sons Pvt. Calcutta, 1958. TREASE, C.E: A text book of KARNICK, C.R., Tiwari, K.C., Majumder, Pharmacognosy, Bailliexe, Tindall & Co. R. & Bhattacharjee, S.: Newer observations London (1957). on Pharmacognosy, Ethnobotany, Phyto- chemistry, Clinical trails and cultivation YOUNGKEN, N.W.: Text book of experiments on Sarphunka (Tephrosia Pharmacognosy, Blakiston Co. Philadelphia, purpurea L. Pers. Of Ayurvedic System of 1950.

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